Today's garden comes from Marlene in Northern Ohio. She says "I love gardening here in Northern Ohio, although it would be nice to have a little longer growing season! Our property is wooded, so I have lots of shade. Forget-me-nots,hosta,bleeding heart,and lots of other shade plants do very well here. People always think it looks like I have so much work with all the flower beds I take care of, but to me it's so much fun and great therapy! This spring I have a little mini greenhouse and I'm having a blast starting plants from seeds and cuttings! I also have a large perennial sale at my house every spring where I dig and divide extra plants. Our last 2 winters have been extremely cold and harsh and unfortunately I have lost a few treasured plants. But spring is here and sometimes I still can't believe my eyes when I look out and see so much green!"
Truly beautiful! Therapy can indeed be beautiful!
Keep sending in photos, everyone! Whether you've never shared before or you've been featured multiple times, we want to see your garden! Email us at [email protected].
Comments
Marlene, the photo of your stone path is absolutely wonderful! The towering evergreens, the vines on the fence, the ferns and hosta's... I love it all! Happy Spring!
Sheila, thank you! A happy spring to you too!
I'm surely a sucker for a woodland spring garden, stonework and blue flowers so your garden has definitely garnered my attention and admiration Marlene. Five stars! Have you sent any photos before?
On another matter, I would like respectfully ask who the new editor is for Garden Photo of Day? We would like to welcome you. Please introduce yourself. We would also love to see your garden. Look forward to hearing from you. Thank you.
Hi Perennially Crazy! I'm the Web Producer here at Fine Gardening, and am stepping in to help this week. So nice to meet you all!
HI Susan! Welcome to GPOD. Hope you can share your garden photos with us while you are here.
If you are only stepping in to help this week, who will be editor next week?
My hope is to get all the editors involved!
Thanks Susan. GPOD become such a nice online community, an inspiration, a source of gardens for print-magazine articles, and several people have told me it actually inspired them to subscribe to the print magazine. Although if you guys killed this blog, I might spend less money on plants that I see that I must have...Ok, who am I kidding? I have no self-control, blog inspiration or not!
We love this blog Tim! (And, btw, I'm from your neck of the woods - Go Bucks)
Unfortunately I'm not from my neck of the woods. What are the bucks? :) Ok, so I work at Ohio State and have lived here for 29 years, but I have not succumbed! Cheers!
Hi Susan. I sent an email to the general GPOD email address May 19 about the GPOD container challenge we had worked out with Michelle. Just wondering if you received that and if you think you'd be willing to do that post. If so, it'd be nice to run the info again on the blog since it had only been run once. All of the details are in my email. You can reply to me directly. My email address should be in the GPOD inbox. Hope you are well. cheers.
Perennially Crazy, thanks for your nice comments! No I have not posted before and I too love the rock garden look! Also I like your name, it would describe me too:)
Yay Ohio! Marlene, everything looks great. Despite some of the losses from the last two winters and this seemingly terribly late spring, plants are now racing out of the ground into the light and some hardy plants seem bigger and better than ever this year! How about you and yours? Sure looks like it. Love the stones and the big log in the first photo.
Tim, thanks! So you know how the last couple winters were here in Ohio! I like extreme weather so I thought the winters were kinda neat! But not so much fun to lose plants...I think the flowering trees are extra loaded with blooms this spring as are the perennials that have bloomed so far. Last year we lost a smoke tree and roses, and a few other plants:(
Beautiful. Hope you own the land. I had wooded areas behind my former house but the property belonged to someone else and I was there unfortunately to see developers undo all my work to put up a home depot and walmart.
Jerry, thanks! That's too bad about the development! I'm all for getting back to nature, so this would have been hard to see! Yes we own the woods surrounding our house and I am very thankful for that!
The sad part is when we bought the property we asked about it being developed. We were told that the lady who owned it willed it to the local YWCA for a girl scout camp. Well these developers offered a ton of money for it and it went to court to see if the "Y" broke a covenant in the woman's will. Naturally money won out. I just don't understand the voracious appetite for money that you could never spend in a hundred lifetimes. Enough for me to live on a nice piece of property and leave a little something for my children and grandchildren is enough for me. I love my flower garden. It is my stress reducer. Keep up the good work with your property.
Marlene, your pictures are wonderful proof of how thoroughly beguiling a small plant can be when it naturalizes and joins together with all its relatives...it becomes "a mass" with impact! I would skip along your path with childlike delight if I were you and feel joyful (as you do) that I have such a lovely place in which to garden. I agree with the others that I would love to see more photos of your garden.
Thanks! I love when plants reseed(most of them anyway:/) Yes I really appreciate my gardens! They are such a wonderful example of God's creation.
Perennially crazy, what do you mean, another editor?????? Where is Michele?
Fine Gardening had a big staff shake up this week. 40 people were let go. Sadly, Michelle was one of them.
Good morning Rhonda. As Tia said... here are more details if you are interested.
http://www.foliomag.com/2015/taunton-press-eliminates-40-positions/ Thanks Granny May for this link.
If you would like to wish Michelle well, show your appreciation and support for her legacy of GPOD and her positive influence on this family, please follow this link and feel free to make a comment or share. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=418648418321827&set=a.312121418974528.1073741828.100005300178733&type=1&theater¬if_t=like
Oh, Marlene, how serene! It looks like nature placed it all there! Great job!!!!
Rhonda, thanks! The forget-me-nots kind of take care of reseeding themselves, they can pop up anywhere!
Hi Marlene...Outstanding is the natural plantings of for-get-me-nots! Very tall trees....beautiful! The path of granite grit is very nice which iam looking into changing some lawn areas into this. It has a great flow. That is so neat that you enjoy gardening with the greenhouse, starting seeds, and doing cuttings! It is a lot of fun for sure! I also divide and sell extra plants in the spring. Its hard to throw away any plant except maybe weeds! Thanks for sharing with us and hope to see more!
Jeanne, thanks! It's so wonderful to connect with fellow gardeners! I love it when plants reseed themselves! I'm always trying to eliminate lawn areas too:) I agree it's hard to throw away plants!
How completely charming and fairy-tale-like, Marlene. The first photo looks like the beginning scene of a movie and I love the winding path with the majestic treeline as a backdrop. Superbly done!
Annek, thanks for your nice comments!
Hello Marlene, so beautiful! Can you please tell me what the plants are in the first pic? I have moved to a shady location, and this is the first time I've had in that type of environment for growing! What a beautiful space x 1 million and 1! :-)
Thank you! The blue flowering are forget-me-nots, the plant towards the left is a "Raspberry Splash" lungwort and the lavender ones are creeping phlox. Hidden under some of that are hostas and ajuga that hasn't started blooming yet. Good luck! I love shade gardens!
Marlene, I think that shade gardens are among the most difficult to bring off successfully, and you definitely have. Michelle, your interest in my little lost garden and its predecessor big one was therapeutic for me, and helped me lick my wounds. I doubt that Taunton appreciated the brilliance of your reaching out to an enthusiastic world of gardeners–their very market. I hope that you get to use your gardening and editorial expertise in your next career. Susan, please hold GPOD together!
Barbara Holdridge
Dreamy Marlene ~ It appears spring has full advantage along your garden paths. Is the last photo of a 'steppable'? The leaf looks similar to a yellow flowering one that we have. What do you do with the forget-me-nots when they are browning? More, more!
Terie, thanks! The last photo is Japanese Anemone and it is not a steppable. They grow around 12" high or so. I let the Forget-me-not seeds dry on the plant if I want them to reseed. It can look pretty ugly for awhile:( When I think they have had enough time to spread some seeds I trim them down some with a hedge shears.
Your garden is beautiful, Marlene! I'm always a fan of meandering paths and lots of rock to accent the billowing softness of the plants around them. That is an interesting fence; I love that you have chosen to add more interest by draping it with vines. Please do send more photos!
GrannyMay, thanks! I love rocks in the garden too! We are blessed with lots of them on our property!
Welcome, Susan!
Thanks Rhonda!
Marlene, I so agree about the therapy aspect of gardening. I'll admit that I sometimes think of it as work as I'm slogging around with a hose, but then when it starts coming together and you know it is due to your own watching, planning, digging, and maintaining ... well, nothing beats that.
And while I am sorry to lose Michelle, welcome, Susan.
Thanks Tia - we miss her very much, and hope to be able to continue carrying on the GPOD tradition.
Tia, I know what you mean! It's mostly a lot of fun but it will keep you busy!
I started gardening when I was a young mother, Marlene. It was from day one wonderful therapy... I often remind my husband of 42 years of how much money we have saved over the years in therapy bills ;) 15 minutes digging in the dirt and the worries seem to start fading away! Too bad it doesn't also help with achy joints!
Ha, here's scientific proof that gardening is good for mental health in a way that might surprise you...
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/66840.php
Michelle started this great GPOD family and its a sad day here in my home,I am still trying to process what has happened.
I would like to welcome Susan Smith, our moderator for today amongst our GPOD family.
I'm not sure if everyone has read through the thread below but for those of you who are not connected with Facebook, I would like to start the ball rolling on letting Michelle (Gervais) know how much we are affected by the sad news of her being let go from Taunton Press.
That said, I believe that she has created the legacy of GPOD and built this wonderful global gardening community, I would like profusely thank her, wish her all the best professionally and personally, and encourage everyone in our GPOD family to do the same as others have already. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=418648418321827&set=a.312121418974528.1073741828.100005300178733&type=1&theater
We feel that there are many great and passionate professionals who work for Fine Gardening and we feel for them at this time as well.
Thanks! While I will continue to post amazing reader gardens, I will get getting some of the other editors involved as well so you can get to know them a bit better as well!
Thank you Susan. I know this has been a very tough week for everyone at Taunton.
Those of us that send photos of our gardens and those that just post have become part of this huge gardening family, and we're a pretty passionate group if you haven't already noticed!
Michelle created something quite remarkable with GPOD, and it has gone far beyond anyone's expectations. As Cherry said, we are a global community... and we welcome you and the other editors into our world!
Thanks, Cherry. I echo your sentiments. Well-said.
Goodmorning PC ~ I don't get it, did I miss something?! I am not on Facebook so maybe I missed the back story - what's become of Michelle? She created this family and was the heart of GPOD, she will be GREATLY missed. I know she knows this but farewell Michelle and my best to you wherever you are going, I know this must be a sad time for you but you have so many gardening friends that are thinking of you. Thanks Cherry for this note - and anything further you might be able to tell us.
Hi Linda. Glad you tuned in and read the comments. Michelle was laid off along with 39 others 2 days ago. We are all shocked and devastated by this news. We are also worried and concerned for the good people who work at Taunton. http://www.foliomag.com/2015/taunton-press-eliminates-40-positions/ We hope that we can all continue to keep in touch.
Thanks Cherry ~ Wow, this is just sad news. I mean it really sucks for Michelle and all the GPODs. She is such a dear I know she will find a happy place where ever she goes next. We will all be thinking of her - and Taunton (I think!)
Lovely. There is nothing like a wooded spring garden. Beautiful flowers, rocks, log, paths...
and the towering trees in the background. More pictures please.
Michelle, I am so sorry to lose you. Best wishes on whatever you do next. Your wonderful GPOD legacy will live on, it seems, and that is a good thing.
Shirley, thanks for the nice comments! I will see about posting more pictures...
You have created a lovely woodland garden Marlene. The lovely meandering path through the Forget-me-nots looks very inviting. Good Luck with the plant sale.
On another note I would like to welcome Susan Smith. It is a sad day for many people at Taunton Press and Michelle will be missed. Good luck in your future endeavours and it was lovely to meet you in 2014. Your enthusiasm
for GPOD and gardening was infectious.
Catherine, thank you! We had the sale last week and it was a great success!
Diane, thanks for the nice comments! I will see about posting more pics.
So beautiful... Woodland gardens have a special place in my heart... I lived in Baltimore City as a young child. Then my parents moved us to the country where I learned so much about plants and gardening by just being in the woods. Marlene you have created a woodland paradise that is worthy of many praises. I agree with you about the therapy. There is nothing like getting out there and getting dirty. I have friends that consider their yard to be work... I would much rather be out there raking than inside vacuuming! Thank you for sharing!
marvellous ...
Marlene, the first photo was such a welcome sight when i came in from work on this 90 degree day,,,,,,,,,cool/ blue and serene. it all looks great and i wish i could be in your garden at this very moment.
i, too, echo everyone's sentiments concerning the shakeup/re structuring at Taunton, sometimes these things are necessary but the correct decisions are not always made. Susan , i'm glad to see gpod continuing but you got some big shoes to fill!
and Michelle i want to give you a big thank you for all you have done and for creating gpod. it is a VALUED and treasured meeting place for gardeners and fine gardening subscribers and i know it was a lot of work on your part on top of your regular job so i extend a heartfelt wish of good luck and happy times in your re incarnation and new adventure. you will be sorely missed by thousands of people throughout the world.
Well said, my friend.
I couldn't agree more with what you have said Jeff. It is amazing what Michelle has done here. And I will miss her inspiration.
Jeff, thanks for your nice comments!
de nada, Marlene, you have created a beautiful and restful garden for the mind and soul
Michelle, I am SO sad! Thank you for your legacy- you will be greatly missed. I don't see how anyone could fill your shoes. :-(
I was so sad for all of us and Michelle herself when learning of her leaving. What Michelle created was a whole new world to share our passionate feelings about the many gardens in so many countries! Within our little comments were encouragement, kindness and a huge amount of knowledge. I think that with our daily visits to GPOD we also learned to care about the lives of so many contributors. Thank you many times over, Michelle.
Business is business and I am pleased to find GPOD in my Inbox today - thank you Susan for stepping in. We wish you luck.
Marlene,your garden is a beautiful peaceful looking garden and I can tell it is gardened with much love. I would love to see more photos these definetly weren't enough to look at. Sorry your day was the day of the big shake up news I hope we didn't take any joy away from you,it has been a difficult day for so many. You are so gracious with your replying .....very happy gardening to you.
Marlene, I love the natural look of your garden. The wandering path is so inviting and the stones along the edge really add to the natural look. Please do send more pictures.
As I read the thread here It seems we are loosing Michelle. It is with a heavy heart that I have come to realize this. Michelle you have done a terrific job of creating this community we now have. It truly is a Valued and treasured meeting place as Jeff has said and we will miss you a great deal. You always did so much to encourage and inspire us. Thank you Thank you! May your next adventure be even more fulfilling and meaningful. I hope it somehow includes the life of gardening. Hope you will continue to be a part of us here. I know you will always be in my mind as I visit these pages :) Thank you again! :)
Welcome Susan. :) I am grateful to gpod continuing :) We look forward to what you will bring to this community in the days ahead.
I would love to sit and just look at your hill and gardens.
Your woodland garden is stunning, Marlene. I love how the forget-me-nots are coming up all through those beautiful boulders with the lovely phlox. When my forget-me-nots turn black, I rip them all out, dispersing seeds as I do and making space for new garden treasures. I shake the pink ones extra hard and sometimes tear off the tops to increase them for next yr.
I'm shocked and saddened to hear the news of Michelle's sudden departure. She did such a fine job creating a wonderful community of gardeners on this site. Her removal is a great loss. I wish her well in what-ever comes next.
Is that wind flower? I tried to start a patch of those - no luck. Yours look even better than I imagined. Beautiful gardens. I love the drifts of Forget-Me-Nots in the dappled sunlight.
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